Berlanga Eyes Eubank Jr. Fight

Edgar Berlanga returns to Madison Square Garden on July 26 against Hamzah Butler, the replacement for the originally scheduled Hamzah Sheeraz.

Berlanga has set his sights on Chris Eubank Jr., framing it as the biggest available money fight before the end of the year and the kind of personality clash that sells tickets without needing a belt to justify it.

"I think that it's a good money fight. He has a name. He has swag. He could fight and he's a trash talker. Once you get me in that mode where you're talking trash, I'm going to go back to the New York Edgar. I think that's going to be a big fight for us in London. We could do it at the O2 Arena. London is a big market that loves boxing. Between us, the swag and the way we talk and the way we could build up a great fight, I think it'll be good for the end of the year,” Berlanga

Eubank remains one of British boxing's most recognisable figures despite turning 36 and coming off a damaging loss to Conor Benn last November. His name travels, the O2 Arena has hosted significant fights throughout his career, and the combination of two outspoken personalities from different boxing cultures — Berlanga's New York swagger against Eubank's particular British brand of confidence — would generate promotional content before a single punch is thrown.

Berlanga also mentioned Jaime Munguia, Jermall Charlo, and a Sheeraz rematch as possibilities. But Eubank was the name he reached for first, which indicates where his priorities actually sit.

Berlanga's loss to Sheeraz — the fight that was supposed to establish him as a genuine contender — left him needing to rebuild his standing before pursuing the division's titleholders. A high-profile win over a name like Eubank, particularly in London on a Zuffa Boxing card, would serve that purpose.